Balloonist dies at New Mexico festival

BERNALILLO, N.M. — A hot air balloon crashed into power lines and burst into flames Friday during Albuquerque's popular annual balloon festival, throwing both men on board to the ground and killing one of them.

Witnesses said that winds had picked up a bit and that many of the balloons were flying low right before the Wings of Wind balloon crashed in Bernalillo, just north of Albuquerque.

The yellow, brown and orange triangle-shaped balloon was among hundreds participating in Friday's events at the balloon fiesta, which runs through Sunday. It's Albuquerque's preeminent tourist draw and is held each October.

Stephen Lachendro of Butler, Pa., was killed and Keith Sproul of North Brunswick, N.J., was critically injured. Kathie Leyendecker, a spokeswoman for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, said she did not know who was piloting the balloon.

Lachendro was found dead at the scene on the side of a ditch; Sproul was unconscious and taken to the hospital, Rio Rancho Fire Battalion Chief Paul Bearce said.

"I couldn't believe it," said Glenn Vonderahe, a witness. "I saw the balloon and the next thing I knew, there was a lot of fire and smoke. There was total fire under the balloon."

He first saw the balloon land, then bounce back up and apparently hit some power lines, he said. The balloon was stuck in the lines for a time, and then Vonderahe saw the balloon portion — called the envelope — float away, a burning tank still attached.

"Debris was flying everywhere," he said. The tank fell harmlessly to the ground, and the drifting envelope was eventually found about 15 miles away.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, said National Guard Lt. Col. John Fishburn.